Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths are found in Central and South America, from Nicaragua to Peru. This particular one was spotted near the Caribbean coast of north-eastern Costa Rica.
Sloths have a layer of thick, gray-brown fur tinged green because of algae growing in it (which aids in their camouflage). They are strictly vegetarian, but are prey for big cats like jaguars, anacondas and harpy eagles.
Two-toed sloths are about 60–70 cm (24–27 inches) long and adults weigh up to 8 kg (17.6 pounds). Their claws are 8 – 10 cm (3-4 inches) long and very sharp! This particular chap seemed sleepy and was only minimally curious about the tourists who had gathered to take his photo. But if provoked enough they can move quickly and will bite and slash at you with their claws, and can do significant damage. Sloths are most active after dark.
The only time sloths descend to the forest floor is to defecate, which is done about once a week and was a task this fellow had completed earlier that day, the reason he was still so close to the ground when we came across him, rather than high on a tree limb.
The following video captures this sloth moving at his usual speed. He really is a remarkably cute fellow!
